Lawyer: Former Mississippi officer indicted in 2015 shooting

JACKSON, Miss. – A lawyer says a former Mississippi police officer has been indicted in the October 2015 shooting death of a black man.

Attorney Jim Waide said Thursday that a prosecutor told him Canyon Boykin, a white former police officer in Columbus, has been indicted for manslaughter in the death of Ricky Ball. Boykin hasn't yet been served, but Waide says he's scheduled to appear in court Friday in Columbus.

A local prosecutor transferred the case to Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood in July, saying it would prevent appearance of bias.

A spokeswoman for Hood declined to comment, citing court rules. Indictments remain secret until served in Mississippi.

Boykin has said he shot Ball after the 26-year-old appeared to point a gun at Boykin during a foot chase.